Tammany Family Links

Thursday, August 25, 2016

Trolley Photographs

Here are a number of photographs of the Trolley (also called the Motor Car) that ran on tracks between Covington and Mandeville through Abita Springs.

Historical records tell us it operated between 1909 and 1918. According to historian Dr. Karl Koenig, "this railroad, built in the early 1900's, ran from Covington to Mandeville, passing through Abita Springs. It was called the "Doodlebug". The first such train was gas with a later one being run by electricity. The depot was on the site of the present Covington City Hall. It ran several trips a day to meet the boats that landed in Mandeville. It was very popular with young people and presented a very pleasant outing because big excursions came from New Orleans to Mandeville on weekends." Click on the images to make them appear larger.

This photo shows the Abita Springs Trolley Station, a popular place for sure on those summer weekends when the New Orleans folks would get off the boats in Mandeville and head for Abita Springs and Covington Hotels. Click on the image below to see a larger version.

1916

A motor car society notice from July, 1909

When it reached Mandeville, the train track ran right onto a pier off the lakefront so passengers getting off a Lake Pontchartrain steamer could jump right on board the train without even going to land first.

Exhibit diorama at the Mandeville Trailhead Museum

Here is a map of the path taken by the Trolley Motor Car. As the map shows, the trolley tracks were different than the NOGN railroad tracks that Tammany Trace follows today. The trolley tracks crossed the Bogue Falaya River further upstream, travelled above La. 36 for a while, then crossed downward and entered Abita Springs south of the railroad tracks.

Heading southward, the tracks for a while paralleled Soell Drive and Helenbirg Road, then headed straight for Chinchuba, where the La. 22 and Hwy. 190 intersection is today. From there the tracks came into Mandeville, zig zagging through the street grid, and finally crossing Lakeshore Drive and going out onto the pier where the lake steamers docked.

It appears to have crossed Lakeshore in the area between Coffee and Carroll Streets. Click on the images below for a larger view.

Liquidation Sale Notice: The Trolley is Gone 1918

Efforts were made to save the trolley line and even expand it to Madisonville. Unfortunately, it failed to continue operation and the assets were sold for scrap.

The man who built the trolley motor car line died shortly after it was sold for scrap.